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Three-way deal with Nets, Celtics final piece for Cavaliers. Now what for the Nets?

By Net Income
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday as the Nets, Celtics and Cavaliers were getting ready for their conference call with league offices, Adrian Wojnarowski reported there was a sense of urgency among one of the three teams.

The deal that sent Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev to the Nets, Tyler Zeller, Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first round pick to the Celtics in return for nothing was the final piece the Cavaliers needed to bring LeBron James home. By clearing all that cap space, the Cavaliers were able to offer James the maximum $20 million contract he wanted.

Don't expect the Nets to get any more benefits, however. They simply don't have the cap space needed.  Where they could reap some benefits is in the new NBA landscape.

The announcement on Sports Illustrated turned the NBA's Eastern Conference upside down, with Miami now likely to drop dramatically. The Heat are likely to lose Chris Bosh to Houston and Dwyane Wade's balky knees can't be relied on.  With Cleveland, as of now, still with a lot of holes on its youthful roster, it evens the playing field in the East. Does it even it up enough for the Nets to wind up better than a second round exit?  Does it help bring Paul Pierce back, get the Russian ownership to spend more?

As for the division competition, those who expected the 76ers to get Jeremy Lin and a pick or more are disappointed.  The Lakers swooped in and grabbed him; expect the Celtics to market Keith Bogans' non-guaranteed $6 million and the Knicks to wait and see where Carmelo Anthony is headed. Until then, they're immobilized. The Raptors, who won the division, are sitting pretty, stable, Spurs-like.

What about this question: Is there anything there for the Nets as Houston tries to clear space for Bosh or the Timberwolves look for a third team to help Kevin Love get out of town?  Not likely, says a league source. The Nets have no space to take anything on despite Houston's willingness to "give guys away for free."

There is of course one saving grace inside the Nets front office that's not measurable in player contracts.  Jason Kidd's Milwaukee Bucks will have to face the Cavaliers, Bulls and Pacers 12 times next year.  There's no place Jason Kidd would rather be.

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